AMBIGUOUS TREE DIAGRAMS

1. A N & N : Old men and women left

S (a)

NP VP

A N’

N conj N V

Old men and women left

A N

N’ conj N V

NP VP

S (b)
2. A N N : That is a small arms factory
a. That is a small factory of arms
b. That is a factory of small arms

S (a)

NP VP

V NP

PN det N’

A N’

N N

That is a small arms factory

1
 S (b)

NP VP

V NP

PN det N’

N’ N

A N

That is a small arms factory

3. V NP PP : They watched the hunter with the binoculars

NP VP

PN V NP PP

Det N P NP

Det N

They watched the hunter with the binoculars

Det N

P NP

N PP

PN det N’

V NP

NP VP

S (b)

2
4. V NP -ingP I met John going to the cinema
5.
a. Going to the cinema, I met John
b. I met John who was going to the cinema

S (a)

NP VP

PN V NP PresP

N Pres PP

P NP

Det N

I met John going to the cinema

Det N

P NP

Pres PP

PN N presP

V NP

NP VP

S (b)

3
6. There is a café in TB district which I like
a. In TB district, there is a café which I like
b. In TB district which I like, there is a café

S (a)

NP VP NP

det N’

PN V N’ S’

N PP comp S

P NP NP VP

N PN V

There is a café in TB district which I like

PN V

NP VP

Comp S

N S’

PN V P NP

N PP

Det N’

NP VP NP

S (b)

4
7. V Adv V Those who sold quickly made a profit
a. Those who quickly sold made a profit
b. Those who sold made a profit quickly

S (a)

NP VP

PN S’ V NP

NP VP det N

PN V Adv

Those who sold quickly made a profit

Det N

PN V

NP VP

PN S’ Adv V NP

NP VP

S (b)

5
8. The rabbit also enjoys our lettuce
a. Even the rabbit enjoys our lettuce
b. The rabbit enjoys our lettuce too

S (a)

NP VP

Det N’ V NP

N adv det N

The rabbit also enjoys our lettuce

Det N

Det N adv V NP

NP VP

S
9. One word with different parts of speech
I know clever people like you
a. I know clever people as you
b. I know that clever people love you

S (a)

NP VP

V NP

PN N’ PP

A N P PN

I know clever people like you

6
 S (b)

NP VP

V S’

PN NP VP

A N V PN

I know clever people like you

10. The man gave the library books

S (a)

NP VP

Det N V NP

Det N’

N N

The man gave the library books

Det N N

Det N V NP NP

NP VP

S (b)

7
11. He promised to call me at 10 o’clock
a. He promised that he would call me at 10 o’clock
b. At 10 o’clock, he promised to call me

S (a)

NP VP

PN V InfP

inf NP PP

PN P NP

PN adv

He promised to call me at 10 o’clock

PN PN adv

Inf NP P NP

PN V InfP PP

NP VP

8
12. He passed the harmer and saw through the window
a. He passed the harmer and the saw through the window
b. He passed the harmer and he saw through the window

S (a)

NP VP

PN V NP PP

NP conj NP P NP

det N N det N

He passed the harmer and saw through the window

Det N det N

P NP

V NP V PP

PN VP1 conj VP2

NP VP